How this will help

My inspiration to
become a conservationist came 20 years ago, when I was deep in the pristine
forest of Virunga National Park, which I like to call "the Yellowstone of
Africa." Found along the equator, on the western edge of the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC), the park is rich with a canopy of trees. It was the
sounds of the gorillas and the stories of the people who rely on the natural
resources of the park that made me want to work in Virunga--and worldwide--to
protect the environment for people and wildlife.

That's one of the reasons why I am so disheartened that British oil company
Soco International PLC plans to explore for oil inside the park. Virunga
National Park is Africa's oldest national park. It could soon become the
continent's newest oil field if we don't speak up.

Take Action: Join the
thousands of people who have told Soco to publicly commit to a permanent stop
to all oil exploration within Virunga.

The park is also important for people and the local economy, as more than
27,000 people fish in Lake Edward and it provides drinking water to 50,000
people. Countless more benefit from locally sourced fish, renewable energy and
other park-related activities. A new report finds the park is worth more than
$1.1 billion annually if it is developed sustainably, rather than being given
over to potentially-damaging oil extraction.

Take Action Today: Tell
Soco to publicly commit to stopping all exploration within Virunga.
Permanently.

WWF also calls on the DRC government to uphold its laws prohibiting
environmentally harmful activities in protected areas. If Virunga falls, it
could be the first of many dominoes to tumble. Parks throughout Africa could
also see their protected status slip away. Join us in drawing a line in the
forest by telling Soco that Virunga is off-limits for oil exploration.

Thank you for joining me in this fight to protect Africa's oldest park.